Chapter 6

"Yes, you got that right, Dino! It's me!" Ivan declared cheerfully. "So, how are you?"

"I'm fine! And I'm really glad that you called me!" Dino exclaimed merrily. "What about you?"

"I'm good too," Ivan responded. "Are you at home now?"

"Yes! What about you?" Dino replied.

"Yes, I'm at the hotel room I had booked right now," Ivan answered.

"I'm glad to know that!" Dino exclaimed happily. "So, no one else recognized and chased you, right?"

"Yes, that's right, so don't worry," Ivan replied in a reassuring tone.

"That's great!" Dino blurted out joyfully.

"Thanks for your help too, Dino," Ivan declared merrily. "I couldn't have escaped those women by myself if it wasn't for your help."

"Oh, it was my pleasure to do so!" Dino replied while blushing as he felt flattered with Ivan's words.

"Glad to know that! I appreciate it," Ivan said sincerely. "Anyway, about that kiss I gave you earlier, I did it with you because I like you."

[Huh? Did I hear him correctly?] Dino thought. [Did he say 'like'?]

"Ah...S-Sorry, but could you please tell me what you said again?" Dino requested shyly.

"Okay, I'll say it again," Ivan responded. "I like you, Dino. I really, really like you. Will you go out on a date with me?"

[What the heck?] Dino thought, feeling incredibly amazed with what Ivan just said. [Is this for real? He likes a guy like me? Then Ivan is gay? Or is he bisexual?]

"Well…I..." Dino replied, yet he was still unsure about what to answer to Ivan's request and feelings. "Will you please give me some time to think about it?"

"Yeah, sure!" Ivan answered cheerfully. "If you ever agree to go on a date with me, I'd like to meet you this Sunday at 4:00PM. Are you free then?"

"Let me check for a moment, please," Dino requested nicely.

"Sure, Dino!" Ivan answered cheerfully.

It took a moment before Dino was finally able to check his schedule, so he said, "Yes, I'm free at that time."

"That's great!" Ivan replied cheerfully.

"When do you need me to decide?" Dino asked.

"You can think it over until this Saturday," Ivan responded. "I'll be reserving the venue too, so it would be better if you can decide much earlier. Okay?"

"Okay," Dino answered. "I'll let you know then."

"Alright!" Ivan declared cheerfully. "I'm looking forward to getting to know you more on our date, so I hope you'll agree to it!"

"Same here, if I agree to go out with you," Dino responded.

"It's fine. You can give yourself some time to think it over, Dino," Ivan declared reassuringly. "But let me tell you this again: I like you. I really, really like you, Dino," Ivan said sincerely in an attractive deep voice.

At that moment, Dino felt his heart beating fast. He had never heard a guy confess like that to him before, and another thing that he could not believe was that the same swimmer he has been admiring for five years was the one who did it. He had dated girls before, but he wondered what it would be like to date a guy.

[It looks like he's serious about this.] Dino thought while feeling flustered. [But I don't have to answer him right now. I'll take my time.]

"I...I'm happy to hear that from you, Ivan," Dino replied with his face blushing. "But please wait for my answer. I can't say it right now."

"Okay, no problem!" Ivan answered in a jolly tone. "Anyway, that's all I have to say. Anything else you want to tell me?"

"Yeah! See you at the fan meeting tomorrow!" Dino declared in excitement. "I'll be bringing my best friend along with me."

"Yeah! See you and your friend there!" Ivan responded happily.

"Okay!" Dino answered eagerly. "Bye!"

"Bye!" Ivan replied cheerfully before hanging up.

[Oh my God...I really can't believe it!] Dino thought while blushing. [He just asked me out on a date?! And he told me that he likes me?! I...I don't know how I should react!] Dino thought as he facepalmed himself.

At that moment, Dino had thought of Eric, who would also have been glad about meeting Ivan.

[That's right! Maybe I should tell Eric about what happened!] Dino thought before beginning to type a message to Eric via Messenger. Then he stopped in the middle of typing and thought, [Wait...Even if I tell him, he most likely won't believe me since I don't even have a picture together with Ivan! Anyway, it doesn't matter since we'll both be meeting Ivan at the fan meeting tomorrow. I'll just send him a message to remind him about the fan meeting.]

[Hey, Eric, we'll go to the fan meeting with Ivan tomorrow. Don't forget.] Dino sent with a smiling emoji via Messenger.

[I haven't forgotten about that man. Don't worry.] Eric replied with a smiling and blushing emoji.

[Great! See you there!] Dino answered.

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Meanwhile, Ivan was inside his hotel room while remembering the moments he spent with Dino earlier. He still could not believe that he would meet an adorable guy who was exactly his type in the Philippines. To top it all off, this guy had also helped him in escaping from obsessive fans.

[That boy Dino...He's really cute!] Ivan thought while smiling like a fool as he took a sip of the red wine from a goblet. [I'm so excited to go on a date with him and get to know him more! I hope that he agrees to go on the date with me too!]

At that instant, Ivan recalled about his fan meeting for tomorrow.

[That's right...I'll be seeing Dino again tomorrow!] Ivan thought while smirking. [Oh, I'm so excited to meet him again!]

Ivan drank the red wine from his goblet, drinking everything until the last drop. Then he wiped his lips with a piece of tissue paper afterwards. He also began to fantasize about the things he would do together with Dino once the former begins courting the latter and also when they become officially together.

[Yeah...I'll make sure to spend a lot of time with Dino and take him to many, many places!] Ivan thought while fantasizing about his upcoming bonding times with Dino. [I'll also give him lots of gifts! And once we become officially together, I'll make sure to bring him to Russia to introduce him to my parents and siblings too! I'll also make sure to get to know his family as well, especially his parents!]

At that moment, Ivan also remembered that he will be undergoing training in swimming at 8:00AM tomorrow.

[Oh yeah! I'll be training tomorrow, so I have to sleep now!] Ivan thought. [But first, I'll be sending a message to Dino!]

[Good night, Dino! I love you!] Ivan sent via Messenger before turning off the lights and going to sleep.

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Meanwhile, Dino had read Ivan's message that went like this: [Good night, Dino! I love you!]

Dino blushed upon reading the impactful yet beautiful three words that someone had sent him for the first time.

[Good night, Ivan!] Dino replied with a smiling emoji.

[Ivan...seriously, you're making me feel flustered!] Dino thought with his heart beating faster than usual. [Aren't we getting into it too fast? Is this really what happens when someone falls in love?]